Ford just released a teaser video of an upcoming Mustang variant that has pony car fans twitching with anticipation. The video doesn’t even show the car; it merely reveals that the S650 will spawn a Mustang Cobra variant and plays an audio clip of the car going through the gears using, presumably, a manual transmission. Ford Racing let the engine do all of the talking, with a caption stating, “For the drivers, with an all-motor heart born from racing. Ford Mustang Cobra, a Legacy Reborn. The story continues in 2027.” The audio clip does sound a bit like the now-retired 5.2-liter Voodoo engine that produced 525 horsepower and sounded great thanks to its flat-plane crankshaft. Many enthusiasts and prognosticators have bench-raced this upcoming Mustang Cobra against the Corvette Z06, noting their naturally aspirated V-8s. As such, there have been hopes that the new Ford would reach a similar power output, in the neighborhood of 650 hp, using a road-going version of the 5.4-liter V-8 used in GT3 racing. That power output doesn’t seem too likely. Ford’s Modular engine family has a bore spacing of 100 mm, and its 5.2-liter Voodoo, as well as its 5.4-liter GT3 engines, are pushing things to their limit with a 94-mm bore. Chevrolet’s LT6 engine, meanwhile, has a cylinder bore of 104.25 mm. That large bore, along with the larger valves that can fit in it, is a big part of why the LT6 can produce 670 hp in street trim. There are racing variants of Ford’s Modular V-8 with that kind of output, but the company’s own 5.2-liter Aluminator crate engine produces a still-impressive 580 hp, and it’s not advertised as being emissions-friendly. So while it’s not too likely that Ford will use its Modular V-8 to go after the Z06’s power density, it could still go after a very driver-focused experience and offer significantly more power than the Dark Horse. That would seem fitting for a Mustang Cobra, as it has traditionally slotted into the lineup above the GT and below the GT500, which has featured a supercharged V-8 as its standard engine since 2007. Even if Ford wants to keep Shelby out of it, there are plenty of great heritage names to choose from, and a naturally aspirated performance variant could easily carry the Boss moniker, so perhaps there’s a reason why the Mustang Cobra is making a comeback. Cobra does have a nice ring to it, and it also has a history of bringing an even more hardcore model, with the Cobra R as the stripped-down, lightweight version for even better lap times. The first Mustang Cobra debuted in 1993 and gave the Fox-body Mustang an improved suspension as well as a cylinder head upgrade and new valvetrain on its 302-cubic-inch V-8. That pushrod powerplant continued for the SN95 Cobra in 1994 and ’95, with the limited-production Cobra R launching in 1995 using a 351-cubic-inch version of the Windsor small-block, before the 4.6-liter Modular V-8 took over in 1996. With a wealth of performance knowledge under its collective belt, there’s no telling how far Ford could go with a high-performance, all-motor Mustang Cobra. There are plenty of suspension improvements to be made that would be too extreme for a mainstream GT or Dark Horse, but which enthusiasts would be willing to put up with if it meant improved feedback and lower lap times. The same goes for aerodynamic upgrades to help keep the Mustang Cobra planted on the track. Even if a new Mustang Cobra doesn’t break power records, a spiritual successor to the GT350 with 575–600 horsepower and a phenomenal driving experience would create a lot of excitement in the showroom, and it wouldn’t even need to have Shelby’s name attached, either. Looking to purchase a car? Find your match on the MSN Autos Marketplace
Liked by Morgan Labelle, Amelia Pelletier
Liked by Morgan Labelle, Amelia Pelletier
Liked by Morgan Labelle, Amelia Pelletier
